In this episode of Anatomy of Leadership, host Chris Comeaux is joined by Colin Fisher, professor, researcher, author, and jazz trumpeter, to explore what decades of research reveal about how groups really work—and why so many teams struggle to reach their potential.
Drawing from his book The Collective Edge, Colin challenges the myth of the “lone genius” and reframes leadership as a discipline of design. Instead of motivating harder or managing individuals more closely, leaders are invited to think like architects—intentionally shaping team size, structure, norms, and psychological safety so collaboration and learning can emerge naturally.
This conversation dives into why most teams are too large to function effectively, how hidden norms silently shape behavior, and why harmony is often mistaken for real collaboration. With practical examples from healthcare, hospice, and other mission-driven environments, the episode offers research-backed insight into building teams that learn, adapt, and perform under pressure.
Episode Insights
•Why teams are often less than the sum of their parts
•How team size and structure impact decision-making
•What psychological safety really looks like in practice
•Why disagreement is essential for strong teams
•How leaders can unlock collective intelligence—not suppress it
If you lead teams, sit in meetings, or want collaboration to actually work, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about leadership and group performance.
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Guest: Colin M. Fisher, Ph.D. author of the book, The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups
Host: Chris Comeaux, President / CEO of Teleios
Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast
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